The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-01-29

THE SroRY OF THE NATIONS. The Story of the
Saracens from the Earliest Times to the Fall
of Bagdad. By Arthur Gilman. New York
and London: G. P. Putnam's Sons. Price
$3.50.
There is no recent series of volumes more
admirably planned and executed than the
series to which this volume belongs. "THE
SroRY OF THE Nations fills an important
place in recent literature. 1t embraces Sc
ries of volumes, prepared by wellknown
writers, and telling in a popular and graphic
manner the stories of those peoples who have
attained special prominence in history. In
these volumes (as the publishers notice ex-
plains) the current of each national life will
be distinctly indicated, and its picturesque
and noteworthy periods and episodes pre-
sented for the reader in their philosophical
relation to each other as well as to universal
history.
Some half dozen or more volumes have
already appeared-Chaldea, Greece, Rome,
Spain and others - and the manner IN
which they have been presented is such as to
warrant confident expectation of a high order
of usefulness from the series.
In the present volume Mr.. Gilman gives a
very attractive and pictorial narrative OF the
"Saracens''-that name of which no phlloio-
gist has yet given the precise signihcatlon,
bat which has now come to be applied to the
followers of Mohammed. AS such it COM
prises "many different nations, scattered, at
times, from the Atlantic to the Pacific" A
remarkably comprehensive study OF this peo-
pie, based on special investigation of hum
dreds of volumes, is given in Mr.. G1lman's
work, The early Arabian belief, the myths
and legends of the people, the commerce of the
early days, the wars of the tribes, the career
of the great Prophet, who like David was
shepherd, the marvellous rise of Islam, the
conquests which followed under Mohammed,
the story of the civilization and the great cit
les of the Saracens, and the final overthrow
of the once mighty power by the Tartars and
Monguls-these great and interesting events
are all detailed in graphic form in this plct-
uresque narrative. The volume, we may add,
is sufficiently illustrated to add interest to
the text.
linson, M. A. New York: John B. Alden.
Two vols, cloth, price, $1.25.
This is an excellent edition of an invalua-
BILE work, well known to students. 1t Is
probably the most serviceable history OF
Egypt now before the public. Prof. Rawlin-
son began this work in 1876, and it was first
published in 1880, in the costly English form.
It is an account of Ancient Egypt, combin-
ing its antiquities with its history, and copl-
ously illustrated, presenting the chief points
of Egyptian life, manners, customs, art, sci
ence, literature and religion. The work also
gives an outline of the general course of his
torical events whereof Egypt was the scene
from the foundation of the monarchy to the
loss of independence. The enormous stores
of antiquarian and historical material accu-
INFLATED during the present century by spe-
cialists in Egyptian matters, are we'll utilized
in the present volumes. Prof. KaWllnson Is
himself one CT the most accomplished schol-
ars in this field, and gifted with the power OF
condensed statement, his work embodies the
results of discovery previous to 1850. The
purpose of the writer was to use pictures very
LARGELY in the course of his narrative. Hence
the volumes contain several hundred lliustra-
tions which are reproduced in this edition with
excellent effect. Biblical students will find
the work one of great practical value In the
illumination of important parts of the An
cient Record. The work is well printed in
solid long primer type and Is bound IN cloth
with gilt tops. At $1.25 for both volumes it
is marvellously cheap.
Messrs. CHM & Company, of Boston, con-
tinue their issue of "Classics for Children"
by an adaptation of the famous Hons Ander-
SENS Faiyu Tales, for children reading the
Fourth school reader. The tales are edited
and adapted for school and homo use, by
Mr.J. n. Stickney. 1t is the second series
in graded edition of three independent vol
umes. The stories are healthful and delight
full for all children. The use of such books
in the school room must make the road to
youthful learning every pleasant to travel.
Another volume in the same series Is de-
signed for older readers-HarrietM artineau's
story of the French Revolution, entitled The
Peasant and the Prince, with preface which
gives a short sketch of this remarkable wo-
man. The series of "Classics for Children"
ia very highly commended by many compe-
tent iudges, among others by Hon. Robert @.
Winthrop, who writes to the publishers that
in ''design and execution" they are "alike
excellent"
The ''Famous Women" series receives its
latest addition in Eliza Clark's volume on
Susanna Wesley, the mother of John Wesley,
the founder, and Charles Wesley, the hymn
writer of Methodism. The volume is not
panegyric on Methodism, nor does it give
much attention to that great movement of
the last century which found in the Wesleys
such capable leadership. 1t differs from
other biographies of Mrs. Wesley, as the au-
thor candidly informs us, Gin not being writ
ten from sectarian nor even from an emf
nently religious point of view" The reader
will soon make up his mind that it is none
the worse for that, for the career of Susanna
Wesley embraced in itself, although cast in
humble lines, and amid unpromising sur
roundings, enough of interest to warrant a
volume, even though her two eminent son
never rose above the level of the other chill
dren of this somewhat numerous family.
"Mind comes from the mother" says Isaac
Taylor, announcing a doctrine which is now
sometimes discredited, and introducing his
chapter on the mother of the Wesleys, in
wesley and Methodism." Whatever view
may be taken of the general proposition thus
succinctly announced, it is no doubt true in
the case of John Wesley The great quail